For his part, Tyler Stafford was charged with a single count of first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault, while Jones received two counts of first-degree assault, according to court records.
Summit County District Attorney’s Office Chief Attorney Brad Gessner told the Akron Beacon Journal that investigators obtained new information related to the case after three suspects were initially charged.
The three men were originally charged with murder and felonious assault, according to prior records. Donovon Jones was charged with disrupting public service. The suspects have pleaded not guilty to the above charges. Bail for each remained at $1 million.
Gessner told the Beacon Journal that new information related to the case could not yet be made public, but clarified that no more were arrested. persons for related charges.
“At this point, we have focused on the acts that led to Ethan’s death and those who committed the crimes,” the reports stated. “We have not focused on the passengers in his (Liming’s) vehicle.”
Liming died after sustaining blunt force trauma to the head on June 2 at night. Police said Liming was in a vehicle with friends as they traveled around shooting a water-based Splatrball at objects, and likely unsuspecting people, the report said.
The group was stopped at Ia Promise School, a property supported in part by The Lebron James Family Foundation, and headed toward the basketball court where the suspects were.
“The adolescents seemed to have pointed or approached the subjects who were on the court and they fired the soft gel gun,” police said. “The collective actions of the teenagers in the car unfortunately seem to have caused the altercation.”
At least two people who were in the vehicle with Liming got out of the vehicle and fired the water pistol at the people on the basketball court. They then allegedly ran back to the car, as a fight broke out after the events.
Affidavits related to the arrests described how police reported at the time that each of those named was involved in an altercation with Liming and his three friends. They allegedly beat and assaulted each of the victims, while Liming was knocked unconscious. He was then beaten further as he laid her unconscious on the ground, Fox News reported.
The Affidavits alleged that each of those involved “stomped and kicked Liming” repeatedly in the head. Jones then took Liming’s friend’s phone while he tried to call 911. Meanwhile, the other two suspects took Liming’s car and drove it to the other end of the parking lot while Liming’s friends tried to transport him to the hospital.
1200With information from Fox News
